NEW ORLEANS - The 2017-18 Sun Belt Indoor Track & Field specialty awards, as voted on by the league’s head coaches, and the all-conference teams were announced on Friday.
On the men’s side, Arkansas State senior Jaylen Bacon was named the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer, ULM senior Alton Clay was named the Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer and Arkansas State freshman Carter Shell was named Men's Freshman and Newcomer of the Year. Bacon was the men’s top scorer (21.5 points) and defended his titles in the 60m and 200m, while Clay took first in the weight throw and finished third in the shot put. Shell finished second in the long jump and triple jump.
In leading Arkansas State to its first Sun Belt men’s indoor track & field title in three years, Jim Patchell was tabbed Men's Indoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year.
On the women’s side, Texas State junior Tramesha Hardy was named the Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer for the second-straight year, UTA junior Alexus Henry and Texas State senior Chelsie Decoud share Women’s Most Outstanding Field Performer honors and South Alabama freshman Hanna-Mai Vaikla swept the Women's Freshman and Newcomer of the Year awards. Hardy, the top women’s scorer with 32.5 points, repeated as champion in four events (60m, 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay), while Henry won the pentathlon and finished second in the high jump and Decoud took first in the high jump. Vaikla placed third in the pentathlon and long jump.
Texas State's Jody Stewart was named Women's Indoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year following the Bobcats' third indoor title in the last four seasons.
In addition to these awards, the first-, second- and third-team all-conference were unveiled. All-conference recognition is based on the highest-place finish each student-athlete receives at the conference championships.
2017-18 SUN BELT CONFERENCE INDOOR TRACK & FIELD AWARDS
Men’s Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer: Jaylen Bacon, Arkansas State
Men’s Indoor Field Most Outstanding Performer: Alton Clay, ULM
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Carter Shell, Arkansas State
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year: Carter Shell, Arkansas State
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year: Jim Patchell, Arkansas State
Women’s Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer: Tramesha Hardy, Texas State
Women’s Indoor Field Most Outstanding Performers: Alexus Henry, UTA and Chelsie Decoud, Texas State
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Hanna-Mai Vaikla, South Alabama
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year: Hanna-Mai Vaikla, South Alabama
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year: Jody Stewart, Texas State
All-Sun Belt Teams
MEN’S
First Team
Ryan Hastings, Appalachian State
Jaylen Bacon, Arkansas State
Michael Carr, Arkansas State
Tiaan Steenkamp, Arkansas State
Luke Fielding, South Alabama
Javen Jackson, South Alabama
Ben Rolader, South Alabama
Migael Strydom, South Alabama
Joel Duren, UTA
Michael Guerrero, UTA
Erik Martinsson, UTA
D’Undre Mitchell, UTA
Emeka Nwangwu, UTA
David Seastrunk, UTA
Brenden Wallace, UTA
Jemal Parharm, ULM
Alton Clay, ULM
Alvin Chikaeze, Texas State
Ben Collerton, Texas State
T-Mond Johnson, Texas State
Second Team
De’Shawn Ballard, Appalachian State
Jabari Johnson, Appalachian State
Brandon Smith, Appalachian State
Heinrich Herbst, Arkansas State
Nick Hilson, Arkansas State
Itamar Levi, Arkansas State
Jacob Oury, Arkansas State
Bennett Pascoe, Arkansas State
Jamil Peeples, Arkansas State
David Phillips, Arkansas State
Cristian Ravar Ladislau, Arkansas State
Carter Shell, Arkansas State
Sven Glueck, Louisiana
Niel Giliomee, South Alabama
Rafael Scott, South Alabama
Beau Robinson, Louisiana
Justin Domangue, UTA
Third Team
Jordan Dale, Appalachian State
Gable Dershem, Appalachian State
Sean Doyle, Appalachian State
Colin Loy, Appalachian State
Isaiah Relliford, Appalachian State
Charles Okeze, Little Rock
Landon Abernathy, Arkansas State
Hayden Hampton, Arkansas State
Elijah Ross, Arkansas State
Kyle Baudoin, Louisiana
Richard Delphin, Louisiana
Warno Potgieter, South Alabama
Petter Gustafsson, UTA
Joe Austin III, Texas State
Joseph Meade, Texas State
WOMEN’S
First Team
Shanieke Watson, Little Rock
Arabriuan Mack, Arkansas State
Jonnay Anthony, Coastal Carolina
Annie Bothma, Coastal Carolina
Alyssa LeClaire, Coastal Carolina
Aynslee van Graan, Coastal Carolina
Lisha van Onselen, Coastal Carolina
Micaiah Dendy, ULM
Michaela Preachuk, South Alabama
Alexus Henry, UTA
Madison Pecot, UTA
Chelsie Decoud, Texas State
Tramesha Hardy, Texas State
DeAijha Hicks-Boyce, Texas State
Esther Oyetunde, Texas State
Devina Schneider, Texas State
Kylah Smith, Texas State
Sydni Willis, Texas State
Indiya Summerville, Troy
Second Team
Imani Chapman, Appalachian State
Chelsey Hargrave, Appalachian State
Calea Carr, Arkansas State
Anaelle Charles, Arkansas State
Hannah Dunderdale, Arkansas State
Danielle Lorenz, Arkansas State
Sarah Michael, Arkansas State
Tori Shelton, UTA
Dawnshae Evans, Texas State
Mylana Hearn, Texas State
Madilyn King, Texas State
Nikki Sanchez, Texas State
Erin Williams, Texas State
Niata Alexander, Troy
Tiarra Bailey, Troy
Gabrielle Henders, Troy
Madison Kennedy, Troy
Precious Ogba, Troy
Third Team
Ellunde Montgomery, Georgia Southern
Sholonda Snell, Georgia Southern
Breanna Thornton, Georgia Southern
Bailey Willett, Georgia Southern
Rashell Reid, Georgia State
Megan James, South Alabama
Carolien Millenaar, South Alabama
Michella Obijiaku, South Alabama
Hanna-Mai Vaikla, South Alabama
Erica Cormier-Jordan, UTA
Taylor Davis, UTA
Brianna McClure, UTA
Astrid Rosvall, UTA
Tatiyana Terrell, UTA
Courtney Johnson, Texas State
Alexis Garrett, Troy